Rotary spraying device



Jan. 6, 1959 E. PARAMONOFF Filed Dec. 22, 1955 ROTARY SPRAYING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ELPIDIFOE ARAMONOFF a- ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1959 E. PARAMONOFF ROTARY SPRAYING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1955 INVENTOR.

S m m m N m R 0. Wm T R W m m M United States P t ROTARY SPRAYING DEVICE Application December 22, 1955, Serial No. 554,692

9 Claims. (Cl. 299-69) This invention relates to rotary spraying devices, and included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a rotary spraying device which is particularly designed to be positioned within a tank and discharge a spray in all directions therein for the purpose of spray cleaning or washing the tank.

Second, to provide a device of this class which is selfcleaning, that is, a portion of the cleaning solution is diverted through all the internal passages of the spraying device, as well as the external surfaces thereof, so that the spraying device itself is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

Third, to provide a device of this class which, by reason of being self-cleaning, may be mounted permanently in a tank, and thus immersed in or wetted by sloshing of the tank contents; thereby providing a spray cleaner which is particularly suited for tanks containing liquids subject to contamination, such as milk, vegetable oils, or the like.

Fourth, to provide a device of this class which utilizes the reaction force of the cleaning fluid itself to rotate the spray nozzles and intermittently change the direction of the spray so that the spray is uniformally discharged in all directions.

Fifth, to provide in a device of this class a novel intermittent operating drive means.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a partial sectional, partial plan view of the gotary spraying device, taken along the line 11 of Fig. 2 is a partial sectional, partial elevational view thereof, taken through 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, taken through 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken through 44 of Fig. 2.

The rotary spraying device is supported from a suitable suspension fitting 1, shown fragmentarily. The fitting may be joined to a suitable fixed support, not shown, adapted to be connected through a hose or pipe to a source of fluid under pressure. Alternatively, the fitting may be connected directly to a hose. By way of example, the device may be employed for the cleaning of milk tanks, in which case the fitting 1 may be permanently mounted so as to depend from the upper side of the tank or may be connected to a hose for insertion into the tank.

Secured to the suspension fitting 1 is a vertically disposed tubular shaft 2 having a ratchet wheel 3 secured thereto adjacent the fitting 1. The shaft 2 is provided with a bearing 4 adjacent the ratchet wheel 3 and a second bearing 5 at its lower extremity. The extremities of the shaft 2 receive a cap nut 6. Between the bearings 4 and 5 the tubular shaft 2 is provided with side outlets or ports 7.

hce

A housing structure 8 is provided which comprises a vertical cylinder 9 and a horizontal cylinder 10 disposed at right angles to each other and offset. The cylinders are hollow and communicate internally. The vertical cylinder 9 is journaled between the bearings 4 and 5. The bearings 4 and 5 are preferably ball bearings and are so arranged that flow passages are provided therethrough. Flow passages 11 and 12 are defined between the extremities of the vertical cylinder 9 and a hub on the ratchet wheel 3, and a flange forming a part of the cap nut 6, respectively.

The horizontal cylinder 10 is provided with bearings 13 at its extremities, between which is journaled a tubular shaft 14 having side ports 15 located between the bearings. The ends of the shaft 14 are provided with caps 16 having skirts 17 extending axially over the ends of the horizontal cylinder 10. The'caps are held on the shaft 14 by an axially extending tie bolt 18 extending through the shaft 14 and through the caps 16. Nuts 19 are provided at the extremities of the tie bolts.

The bearings 13 are, like the bearings 4 and 5, ball bearings or roller bearings so arranged as to form flow passages therethrough. The extremities of the horizontal cylinder 10 and the skirts 17 define flow passages 20 leading from the bearings 13 and directed axially over the external surface of the horizontal cylinder.

The caps 16 are provided with radiating spray arms 21. In the structure shown, each cap is provided with diametrically disposed spray arms. One spray arm may discharge radially, whereas the other spray arm may be provided with a deflecting head 22 so that the reaction of fluid issuing from the deflecting head will cause rotation of the shaft 14, and the spray will be discharged radially in all directions as well as conically from the axis of the shaft.

The horizontal cylinder 10 is provided at its midportion, in a plane passing through the axis of the vertical cylinder 9, with a pair of bosses 23, one directed upwardly and the other downwardly.

The bosses 23 receive journal pins 24, the protruding ends of which are provided with bearings 25 formed at the extremities of a yoke 26. The yoke 26 bridges between the bearings 25 in a direction transverse to the axis of the horizontal cylinder 10. The upper leg of the yoke 26 is provided with a pawl 27 positioned to engage the ratchet wheel 3.

The yoke 26 is arranged to oscillate about the journal pins 24, and in so doing cause the pawl 27 to engage successive teeth of the ratchet wheel 3 and advance the housing structure around the axis of the vertical shaft2. Oscillation of the yoke 26 is accomplished by means of an oscillating bar 28 extending longitudinally at one side of the horizontal cylinder 10. The extremities of the oscillating bar 28 are provided with reaction members 29 in the form of semicircular strips overlying the skirts 17 of the caps 16.

The extremities of the horizontal cylinder 10 are provided with fixed ports 30 which are directed toward the reaction members 29. The skirts 17 are provided with rotating ports 31 which register with the fixed ports 30 as the skirts 17 rotate, so that jets of fluid are intermittently directed against the reaction members 29. The relative position of the rotating ports 31 of the two skirts 17 are so arranged that the reaction members 29 are engaged alternately so as to effect oscillation of the bar 28 and yoke 26, and consequently cause the pawl 27 to advance around the ratchet Wheel 3. Stop members 32 extend from the reaction members 29 so as to limit the range of oscillation. In order to permit movement of the pawl 27 between the teeth of the ratchet wheel 3, it is necessary that the yoke 26 be capable of limited movement along the axis defined by the pins 24.

3 A spring 33 surrounds the upper bearing 25 so as to hold'the pawl 27 in yieldable engagement with the ratchet wheel 3. It is also desirable that the yoke 26 and oscillating bar 28 normally occupy an extreme position. For this purpose the spring 33 may be utilized as a torsion springand tends to hold the yoke 26 and oscillating bar 28 in the position opposite from that shown in Fig l. If desired, in order to ensure a morepositive engagement of the pawl 27 with the ratchetwheel 3 than that afforded by the yieldable action of the spring 33, the upper boss 23 may 'be provided with a laterally directed portion terminating in a cam 34, sloping upwardly from the left, as viewed in Fig. 2. A pin .35 is mounted on the yoke 26 for engagement with the cam 34. As the yoke moves from its position, shown in Figs 1 and 2, to its opposite extreme position, the 'cam pin 35 rides upwardly on the cam to ensure engagement with the ratchet wheel 3. 4

The arrangementof the spring 33 together with the cam 34 and campin 35 tends to maintain the pawl 27 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 3 when no fluid is passing through the device, and thus the spraying device is locked or held against random rotation when not in operation.

A boss 36 projects from one side of the cylinder 9 and pivotally supports a detent lever 37 having a finger 38, which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 3 to prevent back movement. The finger of the detent lever is yieldably held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 3 by a spring 39.

Operation of the rotary spraying device is as follows: The device is intended primarily for the cleaning of milk tanks, such as those used on tank trucks and railroad tank cars. The device may be attached to an end of a hose and arranged to be set within the manhole usually provided in such tanks. Alternatively, the device may be permanently mounted on the top of such tank.

When it is desired to clean the tank, various solutions are discharged through the device, such as flushing solutions, detergentsolutions, and the like. The liquid or fluid employed passes into the vertical shaft 2, through the outlets 7 into the housing structure 8, through the ports 15 into the tubular shaft 14, "and then out the spray arms 21 and deflecting head 22.

Reaction on discharge from the deflecting heads 22 cause rapid rotation of the shaft 14 so that spray is discharged radiallyand conically. At'the'same time the pawl 27 is oscillated due to the alternately flowing jets which strike the reaction members 29. As a consequence, the spray-is discharged in every direction as the housing advances around thevertical shaft 2.

Simultaneously with the flow'of fluid from the spray arms '21 and deflecting'heads-ZZ some of the fluid discharges through'each of thebearings 4, 5, and 13 so as to continuously flush the bearings. In addition, fluid from theupper hearing 4 is directed against the under side of the ratchet wheel 3, and flows radially to wash 'the under. side of the wheel 3 and particularly the ratchet teeth.

Also the fluid discharged through the bearings 13 flows axially through the passages 20 and over the surfaces of the horizontal cylinder 10. As a consequence, all'portions of the sprayingdevice are continuously washed,-so that when the cleaning operation accomplished by the spraying device has been completed the device itself is thoroughly clean.

Thisds particularly important when the device is installed as a permanent structure within a-tank or the like. For example, when used in milk tanks, the device will, if permanently installed, become coated with milk 'duri'ng'use of the tank for storage or transportation; but when the device is operated'to clean the tank, the'device itself is thoroughly cleaned 'to prevent any possibility of contamination.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rotary spraying device, comprising: a tubular supporting means adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure; a hollow shaft having spraying means at its extremities including a reaction nozzle to effect rotation of said shaft; a housing-structure journaling said supporting means and shaft about transversely related axes, said housing having means defining passageways between said supporting means and shaft; axially directed means at the ends of said shaft disposed in axially overlapping relation with adjacent portions of said housing structure, and .ports in said means and housing portions adapted to'move intermittently and alternately into registry as said shaft rotates, thereby to produce inter- -rnitte'nt.jets of fluidfa ratchet carried by said supporting means; a pawl oscillatably mounted on said housing structure to engage said ratchet; and impingement members alternately engaged by said jets of fluid, to effect ocillation of said pawl and advancement of said housing structure about the axis of said supporting means.

2. A rotary spraying device as set-forth in claim 1,

wherein: bearings having flow passages therethrough communicating with said supporting: means, andjournaling said housing relative to said supporting means and shaft, whereby fluid continuously washes through said bearingsduring rotation of said housing about said supporting means and rotation of said shaft in saidhousing.

3. A rotary spraying device as set forth in claim 2, wherein: deflection means directs the fluid discharged through one of said bearings radially across said ratchet to wash the same; and other deflecting means, utilizing the overlappingportions of said housing and axially directed means, directsthe discharge'through other bearings over said housing to wash'the exterior thereof.

4. A'rotary spraying device, comprising: a depending hollow fixed supporting means adapted 'for connection to a source of fluid underpressure; a housing structure including a vertical and a horizontal cylinder, the vertical cylinder being journaled on said supporting means; a tubular shaft journaled in said horizontal cylinder and extending from the ends thereof; .spraymeans including reaction tips at the ends or said shaft adapted to cause rotation thereo-flTsaid supporting means and said'shaft being ported and said housing structure defining fluid passages for flow of fluid from said supporting means to said spray means and reaction tips; skirts extending from the ends of said shaft over the adjacent ends of said horizontal cylinder, said skirts'and adjacent ends of said horizontal cylinder having'ports adapted to register intermittently to form intermittent jets; a ratchet carried by said supporting means; a pawl oscillatably mounted on said housing; and impingement members connected with said pawl and engaged by said intermittent jets to cause oscillation of said pawl, thereby to cause'advancement'of said housing structure about said supporting means. I

5. A rotary spraying device asset forth in claim 4, wherein: bearings, having flow passages therethrongh communicating with said supporting means, aredisposed atthe ends of said cylindersto journal said housing structure relative to said supporting means and saidshaft, whereby fluid"continuously washes through said bearings as said housing structure rotates about said support? 'ing'mea'ns and said shaft rotates in saidhousing structure.

"63A rotary spraying device' as set forth in claim 5, wherein: deflection means directs the fluid diseharged through one ofthe bearings in the vertical cylinder across said ratchet to wash the same; and-said skirts form deflection means for the fluid discharged through the bearings at the ends of said horizontal cylinder to cause said fluid to wash over the surfaces of said horizontal cylinder.

7. A rotary spraying device as set forth in claim 4, wherein: yieldable means is provided for urging said pawl into fixed engagement with said ratchet when said fluid supply is cut off, thereby to hold said housing structure against rotation when fluid is not flowing therethrough.

8. A rotary spraying device, comprising: a tubular supporting means adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure; a hollow shaft having spraying means at its extremities including a reaction nozzle to effect rotation of said shaft; a housing structure journaling said supporting means and shaft about transversely related axes, said housing having means defining passageways between said supporting means and shaft; a ratchet carried by said supporting means; a pawl oscillatably mounted on said housing structure to engage said ratchet; impingement members alternately engageable to effect oscillation of said pawl and advancement of said housing structure about the axis of said supporting means; jet means adjacent said spray means alternately operable to engage said impingement members; and bearings having flow passages therethrough communicating with said supporting means and journaling said housing relative to said supporting means and shaft, whereby fluid continuously washes through said bearings during rotation of said hous ing about said supporting means and rotation of said shaft in said housing.

9. A rotary spraying device, comprising: a depending hollow fixed supporting means adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure; a housing structure including a vertical and a horizontal cylinder, the vertical cylinder being journaled on said supporting means; a tubular shaft journaled in said horizontal cylinder and extending from the ends thereof; spray means including reaction tips at the ends of said shaft adapted to cause rotation thereof, said supporting means and said shaft being ported and said housing structure defining fluid passages for flow of fluid from said supporting means to said spray means and reaction tips; a ratchet carried by said supporting means, a pawl oscillatably mounted on said housing; impingement members connected with said pawl to cause oscillation of said pawl, thereby to cause advancement of said housing structure about said supporting means; alternately operable jet means for engaging said impingement members; and bearings having flow passages therethrough communicating with said supporting means, and disposed at the ends of said cylinders to journal said housing structure relative to said supporting means and said shaft, whereby fluid continuously washes through said bearings as said housing structure rotates about said supporting means and said shaft rotates in said housing structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,074,052 George Mar. 16, 1937 2,078,568 George Apr. 27, 1937 2,239,198 Ostling Apr. 22, 1941 2,681,250 Metcalf June 15, 1954 2,753,211 Hubbard July 3, 1956 

